FTA Announces New Executive Director

(Dec. 22, 2008) — Matthew Welbes will oversee day-to-day administration and operation of agency’s responsibilities.

Duncan on the Bus

(Dec. 17, 2008) — Obama’s nominee for education secretary, Arne Duncan, knows something about pro-basketball and school transportation.

Industry Awaits Federal Threat Assessment

(Dec. 1, 2008) — TSA has continued to be transparent on the procedures involved with determining the school bus vulnerability to terrorist attacks, but has yet to release report.

NHTSA Figures: School Bus Fatalities Decline

(Nov. 12, 2008) — Passenger fatalities fell in 2006-2007, while pedestrian fatalities rose.

Alberta to Require Flashing Lights, Improve Training

EDMONTON, Alberta (Nov. 6, 2008) — A report following two recent high-profile fatalities outlines 10 safety improvements for provincial school buses.

NASDPTS Discusses Restraints, FTA

(Oct. 30, 2008) — State directors ponder three-point lap/shoulder restraints and discuss upcoming FTA NPRM and TSA's soon-to-be-released threat assessment.

NHTSA Issues Final Rule on School Bus Occupant Protection

(Oct. 15, 2008) - New regulations for three-point lap/shoulder belts on small buses, voluntary recommendations for installing the occupant restraints on large buses and 24-inch seat backs highlight update to FMVSS 222. Final compliance due by the start of the 2011 school year.

Congress Expected to Receive School Bus Threat Assessment Soon

(Oct. 8, 2008) - Transportation Security Administration's latest update on status of report points to possible public release by Thanksgiving.

School Bus Watch to Receive Overhaul

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 29, 2008) – Eyes on the Road attempts to pickup where the previous program left off following a congressionally-mandated re-bid of the federal contract.

FTA Releases Final Policy Statement on Tripper Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 16, 2008) — Agency responds to concerns of reduced routes, student safety and environmental harm.

UK Commission Recommends Yellow Buses for School Transport

LONDON (Sept. 12, 2008) — Report finds that school buses would reduce Britain carbon emissions by 55,000 tons a year while making the school run safer for children.

NHTSA Names New Administrator

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 8, 2008) — Agency's former Chief of Staff David Kelly takes over as acting administrator.

Alberta Pupil Transportation ‘At a Breaking Point,’
Report Says

CALGARY , Alberta (Sept. 3, 2008) — School transportation needs to change, according to provincial school boards association.

Canadian Province Aims to Make Activity Trips Safer With Van Prohibition

ASBC Releases Survey Results, Announces Webinar

Ontario Eyes Cell Phone Ban While Driving

ETOBICOKE, Ontario (Aug. 8, 2008) — Province seeks to become the latest to target on-road distractions for all drivers including those of the yellow school bus.

NHTSA Amends FMVSS 213 Compliance Date for Dummy Usage

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 7, 2008) — Industry given until 2010 to correct seating and molding issues of new 10-year-old and 6-year-old Hybrid III crash dummy.

TSA School Bus Threat Assessment Coming this Fall

CALGARY, Alberta (July 22, 2008) — Head of homeland security highway and motorcarrier division updates private school bus contractors on federal threat assessments of national fleet.

Contractors Warned Their Livelihood in Jeopardy

(July 22, 2008) — NSTA lobbyists plead with private sector to submit comments to docket supporting proposed FTA policy that targets transit infringement on school bus operations.

Public Comment Sought on Regulating Greenhouse Gases

(July 14, 2008) — EPA publishes call for comment to Advanced Notice of Rulemaking to address Supreme Court ruling that gases meet Clean Air Act definition of a pollutant.

UK Study Finds Retreads are Greener than New Tires

(July 7, 2008) — Manufacturing, distributing tire retreads found to be more environmentally-beneficial practices.

House Passes Resolution Recognizing Need to Secure School Buses

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 23, 2008) — Ahead of a federal report assessing the vulnerability of the national transportation system to terrorism, the importance of school bus security put on par with that of public mass transit.

FMCSA Extends Comment Period on NPRM for
New CDL Interim Rules

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 16, 2008) — Proposed rule argued to put more restrictions on interim CDL holders and trainers, especially those in the school transportation profession.

Caterpillar, Navistar Enter Global Alliance for Truck and Engine Development

(June 12, 2008) — Manufacturers to team on future development of MaxxForce engines for school buses; Cat also announces no branded engine solution for 2010.

Alabama Looks at Lap-Shoulder Belts, Fuel Prices

AUBURN, Ala. (June 10, 2008) — Attendees at the 66th annual state conference discuss the pilot lap-shoulder belt study and the cost of fuel under a shrinking budget.

Minnesota Gets Office of Pupil Transportation Safety

ST. PAUL, Minn. (May 27, 2008) — Law means new director, new responsibility for state that has never had an office exclusively for pupil transportation.

FTA Seeks to Strengthen Definitions of Tripper Service, School Bus Operations

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 21, 2008) — Feds respond to ruling earlier this year by U.S. district court in Western New York that allowed transit agency to continue providing exclusive school service that violates tripper service rules.

First Student Eyes $1.2 Billion Vehicle Purchase Agreement for IC CE

CINCINNATI (May 14, 2008) — School bus contractor announces potential for one of largest fleet purchases in industry history with initial agreement on Type-C conventional CE Series vehicle order through 2010.

M.A.D.D. Observes 20th Anniversary of
Fatal Kentucky School Bus Crash

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 13, 2008) — Mothers Against Drunk Driving calls for national moment of silence to remember victims of one of the nation's worst drunk driving crashes.

New Final Rule on Charter Bus Service in Effect

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 6, 2008) — Among changes are clarification of what constitutes legal charter service by public transit, electronic registration of private providers and more detailed complaint, hearing and appeal procedures.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 29, 2008) — Two contractors shared their plan to put together a report to Congress this summer during the first day of the National School Transportation Association's annual Spring meeting at the nation's Capitol.

Los Angeles Wins Grant for More CNG Buses

LOS ANGELES (April 25, 2008) — The biggest CNG fleet in California just bigger, following a grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

School Buses Doing Their Part to Celebrate Earth Day, Reduce Emissions

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (April 22, 2008) — As districts across the country celebrate Earth Day, the school bus industry weighs in with how it can help to further reduce the carbon footprint with school buses.

Proposed Rule Targets New Commercial Drivers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 10, 2008) — States would be required to issue tests and other requirements for Commercial License Permit and follow other oversight rules before issuing a CDL. Proposed rule would also affect those seeking a new school bus endorsement.

EPA Announces $49.2 Million for Diesel Emissions Reduction

Washington, D.C. (April 4, 2008) — School buses will compete with other diesel vehicles for diesel emissions grant funding for the first time.

Virginia Public Schools to Look at Transporting Private Students

(March 31, 2008) — Local groups will meet to look at what it would mean to transport private school students on public school buses.

TSA Releases Poster, Updates STSA Web Site

(March 25, 2008) – The Transportation Security Administation is distributing a poster that cautions drivers to watch for suspcious items and behaviors and recently updated its School Transportation Awareness Web site.

Public Transit Ridership Continues Increase, Still Below School Bus Figures

(March 19, 2008) - Largest numbers of public riders in last five decades remains approximately 700,000 less than the number of annual school bus riders, according to industry statistics.

Ontario School Bus Operators to See Relief from Rising Operating Costs

(March 14, 2008) - School boards to receive additional $10.5 million to offset the effects of high fuel prices plus an additional $4.9 million over current funding to meet the provincial cost benchmark of operating a typical 72-passenger school bus.

Thomas Built to Recall More than 93,000 Buses

(March 7, 2008) - Model year 2001 through 2008 buses found to have faulty emergency door handles that can delay evacuation efforts in the case of an emergency.

Van Driver Charged in Fatal Minnesota Crash

COTTONWOOD, Minn. (Feb. 27, 2008) - Vehicular homicide charges handed down in crash that killed four students and injured 13 others; National Transportation Safety Board aids in investigation.

School Bus Driver, Students Save Woman's Life

TICONDEROGA, N.Y. (Feb. 15, 2008) — Roxanne Dore was shoeless and frozen to the roadway when school bus driver Robert Chamberlain spotted her in a snow bank. Emergency responders say she likely would have died had Chamberlain and five students not brought her onto their school bus and warmed her in their coats.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Jan. 27, 2008) – A U.S. Federal District Court ruled that a Federal Transit Administration order to a local transit authority to cease illegal school bus tripper service was “arbitrary and capricious” because it was inconsistent with the federal regulations.

NPRM Comment Period Ends, Review Begins

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 25, 2008) — Now that NHTSA’s comment period on the school bus occupant restraint NPRM has ended, it time to analyze the opinions.

Congress Concerned About School Bus Threat Assessments

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 18, 2008) — House Committee on Homeland Security questions TSA on lack of follow-through in performing federally-mandated threat assessment of national school bus system.

IC Corp Announces Price Increases

WARRENVILLE, Ill. (Jan. 7, 2008) — Company does not hide the fact that increases in commodities will cause price of buses to increase in the new year.

Bush Signs Energy Bill, Missing Key Incentives

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 19, 2007) — Although some are calling the bill's passage a major step forward in the country’s effort to heal some of the effects of global warming, tax breaks for alternative energy vehicles were removed.

No Timetable for Canadian Seat Belt Regulation

Lap/Shoulder Belts Only for Small Buses

(Nov. 16, 2007) — The clock is ticking on a comment period tied to a new NHTSA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on three-point restraints for all Type A buses, 24-inch high seat back requirements for all school buses and criteria for voluntarily-installed seat belts on large Type C and D buses.

Proposed Bill for Motorcoach Seat Belts Hits Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 8, 2007) — Senators from Ohio and Texas introduce a bill that would require seat belts during interstate travel, which one opponent calls "prescriptive" as it fails to rely on scientific research.

University of Alabama Chosen for Seat Belt Study

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Nov. 6, 2007) — Although the institution was the only one to apply for the grant, its proposal was very thorough and addressed all the items asked for by Gov. Bob Riley's task force, according to the state department of education.

CINCINNATI (Oct. 2, 2007) — It's a new day for North America's new largest school bus contractor as its acquisition of Laidlaw is complete. First Student is forecasted to account for about half of the total annual revenue of FirstGroup America, which includes transit business and the iconic Greyhound.

Collins Industries Purchases Corbeil Bus

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. (Sept. 27, 2007) — Operating company for Collins Bus Corporation and Mid Bus Corporation announces purchase of "select assets" from Canadian small bus manufacturer Corbeil Bus, which announced it closed its doors last week.

Corbeil Ends Long Life in School Bus Industry

SAINT-LIN-LAURENTIDES, Quebec (Sept. 18, 2007) — Canadian small bus OEM ends its 70-year run, which included a sale to Blue Bird in the 1975 and Michel Corbeil buying the company back 10 years later.

Mid Bus to Leave Ohio for Collins Plant in Kansas

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. (Sept. 18, 2007) — Collins Industries, Inc. announced it will close the Bluffton plant on Nov. 9. and move Mid Bus to its facility outside Wichita.

Is GPS Data E-Rate Refundable?

(Sept. 14, 2007) — In the bidding wars over large-scale GPS school bus installations, a definitive answer on whether or not districts are eligible to receive a federal rebate for certain telecommunication services related to data transmission is forthcoming from the FCC and the Universal Service Administrative Company .

Unlicensed Driver Ignores Stop-Arm, Kills 17-Year-Old

DAYTON, Ohio (Sept. 12, 2007) — On Friday, an unlicensed driver sped around a stopped school bus at 75 mph in a 45 mph zone, killing 17-year-old high school junior Julian Hill, who had just been dropped off and was crossing the road to make her way home.

Laidlaw-FirstGroup Deal Expected to Close Next Month

(Sept. 4, 2007) — Laidlaw International discloses it and FirstGroup of Scotland are near an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and state attorney generals on the proposed acquisition.

Stolen School Buses Raise Eyebrows in Houston

HOUSTON (Aug. 29, 2007) — Of the 15 school buses that have been reported stolen since January, only two have been recovered, causing local law enforcement to question their disappearance. While authorities are not saying there is a relation to any terrorist activity, they do not disregard the possibility.

NHTSA Updates Seat Belt Docket

Alabama Seat Belt Study Opened to Public for Bidding

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Aug. 20, 2007) — The Alabama school bus seat belt task force met to send out request for proposals for feasibility study.

The Parental Side of the School Bus Seat Belt Coin

(Aug. 14, 2007) — Parents of injured, killed students in 2006 Texas charter school bus crash tell feds, industry of concerns over school bus occupant safety.

Nominees Sought for NAPT-STN Leadership Award

ALBANY, N.Y. & REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (Aug. 14, 2007) — Annual award winner to be announed on Oct. 29 during the NAPT 33rd Annual Conference and Trade Show awards breakfast in Grand Rapids, Mich.

School Bus Inserted into New Federal Threat Assessment Law

(Aug. 13, 2007) — The industry identified Rep. Bob Etheridge of North Carolina as a key advocated to include the yellow school bus in Homeland Security study to Congress.

Durham May Post Diesel Warnings in California

(Aug. 9, 2007) — Durham School Services may replace older school buses with new models under an advanced settlement of an environmental lawsuit. The suit's required signs warning about the danger of diesel exhaust exposure may put more kids at risk, says Laidlaw Education Services.

New State Director has Both Public, Private Experience

(Aug. 6, 2007) — Jerry Ford has done it all in pupil transportation. Ford, 54, begins his second full month as the director of the Office of Student Transportation at the New Jersey Department of Education. He started on June 25, 2007.

RENO, Nev. (July 29, 2007) — Oklahoma state director Randy McLerran wins Peter J. Grandolfo Memorial Award of Excellence, Blue Bird celebrated its 80th birthday and attendees received a schooling in safety and security, emissions and new technology, Head Start and management topics.

NHTSA Announces NPRM for Large School Bus Occupant Restraints to Come this Fall

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 11, 2007) — NHSTA administrator Nicole Nason moved up a deadline for issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that give states and local school districts more "comprehensive" guidance on how to address such passenger safety issues as 3-point lap-shoulder seat belts and the industry standard of compartmentatlization.

Head Start Announces New Vehicle Options, DOT Study

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 28, 2007) — A new Head Start program instruction announced a third vehicle option for transporting Head Start students and an onongoing U.S. Department of Transportation study “on occupant protection on Head Start transit vehicles.”

AUSTIN, Texas (June 21, 2007) — While some in Texas were surprised and upset by Gov. Rick Perry’s veto of a bill banning unnecessary school bus idling that won strong support in both the house and senate, some attendees at the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation’s 34th Annual Conference and Trade Show in Waco were relieved when they heard the news.

South Carolina Assembly Overrides Veto of School Bus Replacement Bill

COLUMBIA, S.C. (June 15, 2007) - With a new law in the books that sets a 15-year age limit on each state-owned school bus, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford ensures funding for new purchases and increased fuel costs by signing an emergency bill.

Texas School Bus Seat Belts Law Enters Books

(June 8, 2007) — Gov. Mark Sanford attended Beaumont Independent School District on Friday to sign nation's second state law requiring the occupant restraints.

NHTSA to Host School Bus Occupant Protection Summit

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 4, 2007) — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing July 11, 2007 as the date of a school bus seat belt summit in the nation's capital.

Cerberus Affiliate to Purchase 80% Stake in Unit of DaimlerChrysler Auto Group to be Named Chrysler Holdings LLC

NEW YORK (May 15, 2007) — Last year, Cerberus Capital Management entered the school bus market with a bang with its September purchase of Blue Bird Corporation. Cerberus continued its aggressive approach in the manufacturing industry this week by announcing its intent to purchase a majority stake in the Chrysler Group automotive business unit of DaimlerChrysler for $7.4 billion.

Congress Told High Fuel Prices for School Buses Impact Environment, Child Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 10, 2007) — NSTA Government Regulations Committee chair Terry Thomas (pictured) testifed on Capitol Hill yesterday before the House committee on global warming to make the case that the school bus industry needs federal support to deal with affect of fuel prices on operations, the enivronment and child safety.

Blue Bird to Close Type A Plant in Canada

(May 8, 2007) — Blue Bird announced today it is closing its Brantford, Ontario manufacturing plant this summer and moving its Micro Bird Type A program to the company’s headquarters in Fort Valley, Ga. It was not immediately known how many Canadian workers would be displaced, as phone messages to Blue Bird representatives seeking comment had yet to be returned.

Connecticut Adopts New School Bus Standard Requiring Crossing Control Arms

(May 4, 2007) - Connecticut became the latest state to require all school buses to be equipped with crossing control arms mounted at the right front bumper.

Parents Create Human Barrier to Protect Children While Crossing

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (May 2, 2007) — In an effort to curb the dangerous habits of drivers in the area, parents of students from Shippensburg Area School District, Pa., formed a human chain to protect their children while crossing Route 11 to reach their bus stop.

NASDPTS Elects Charlie Hood as President-Elect

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 23, 2007) — The National Association of State Directors
of Pupil Transportation Services announced today that Charlie Hood, Florida’s state director of transportation, will replace Charley Kennington as president-elect of the association.

FirstGroup Closer to Purchasing Laidlaw

CINNCINATI (April 20, 2007) — Shareholders of both companies have approved the acquisition of Laidlaw International by FirstGroup. The move brings First Student, the United States subsidiary of Aberdeen, Scotland, based FirstGroup, closer to becoming to becoming the largest private pupil transportation contractor in the United States with nearly 65,000 buses.

Companies Partner to Bid on Chicago GPS Contract

CHICAGO (April 18, 2007) — Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the third largest school district in the U.S., recently began the process of reviewing bids for one of the nation’s largest school bus GPS installations. The district is currently reading over bids from eight different providers, including IBM, Cingular Wireless, Edulog and IC Corp.

Thomas Infuses a Little Yellow into Fire Truck Red

HIGH POINT, N.C. (April 4, 2007) — School bus manufacturer Thomas Built Buses supplies seven of its Saf-T-Liners to be modified as high-tech ambulance buses capable of transporting up to 20 victims.

Kennington Steps Down as Texas State Director

HOUSTON (March 26, 2007) — Charley Kennington was slated to be the next president of NASDPTS once Derek Graham’s current tenure is up in the fall of 2008. He now will be heading up transportation services at the largest education services center in Texas.

EPA Study Supports Anti-Idling Benefit for Students

NEW YORK (March 20, 2007) — The U.S. EPA Region 2 concluded a study with a New York school district that finds anti-idling measures for school buses greatly reduces the exposure of students to harmful diesel emissions pollutants, in agreement with previous statements made by EPA's Clean School Bus USA program.

Local Media, Blogger, Mistakenly Report Atlanta Crash as School Bus Accident

ATLANTA — The recent bus tragedy in Atlanta that took the lives of five members of a college baseball team, as well as the driver and his wife, has shed an unwanted light on the school bus industry.

Getting to the Heart of the Matter

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Mar. 11, 2007) — The first general session of the 16th Transporting Students with Disabilities & Preschoolers conference began March 11 with a welcome speech by Kay Kennedy, the director for the Kentucky Department of Education’s division of district operations.

First Student Working on Security System for Buses

CINCINNATI (Feb. 19, 2007) — Amid news Laidlaw was being purchased by First Student's parent company, First announces sweeping security changes coming to its entire school bus fleet.

Specialty Manufacturing to Merge with Transit Component Manufacturer

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. ( Feb. 15, 2007) - Optimizing customer satisfaction the goal of announcement to join forces with Pretoria Transit. Gray Ellison to become president of both companies.

FirstGroup to Purchase Laidlaw and School Bus Biz

LONDON (Feb. 9, 2007) — A school bus contractor behemoth was emerging amid the news FirstGroup plc was purchasing Laidlaw International for $3.6 billion.

ASBC Shows the Love for School Bus Drivers with Web Site Promoting Valentine's Day Tie-In

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 1, 2007) — The ASBC released a new Web site allowing students across the nation to create Valentine's Day cards for their school bus drivers, as well as related activities for educators to download, all in celebration of the safe transport of 25 million school children each school day.

New York Contractors Receive Favorable Ruling in Tripper Service Violation Case

(Jan. 24, 2007) — Despite pledges to appeal an FTA Region II ruling, the Rochester Genesee Regional Transit Authority in upstate New York was ordered to cease and desist its subsidy busing of students that was found to be in violation of federal tripper service regulations.

Information Sought on School Bus Private Charter Services in Effort to Curb Allegd Price Gouging

SPRING LAKE, Mich. (Jan. 18, 2007) — Busrates.com is attempting to increase the number of listings on its Web site of companies that engage in private charter school bus service to better educate the public on true costs.

Transporting Students with Disabilities
Conference Heads to Bluegrass State

(Jan. 12, 2007) — The First Amendment and how it affects special needs transporters is a key theme of the annual meeting and tradeshow held this year in Louisville, Ky. The theme is “Going All Out: Doing Your Best,” with a special focus on ongoing professional development.

Details Come to Light on Last School Year's National Loading/Unloading Zone Fatalities

TOPEKA, Kan. (updated Jan. 2, 2007) — Total fatalities dropped by 35 percent during the 2005-2006 school year, according to the 36th National School Bus Loading & Unloading Survey, but data indicated a shocking number of student deaths occuring at the school bus rear dual wheel position compared to up front.

HIGH POINT, N.C. (Dec. 13, 2006) - The end of an era marked the announcement of a $10.3 million manufacturing plant renovation to begin in January 2008, as the company retired the FS-65 Type C school bus line after producing nearly 250,000 units since 1972.

Connecticut DMV Ordered to Improve
School Bus Driver Background Checks

HARTFORD, Conn. (Dec. 7, 2006) - Loop holes in the Connecticut DMV's system of checking school bus driver backgrounds were ordered closed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell following the October pedestrian death at the hands of a driver with a criminal record who was later found to be under the influence of cocaine.

NASDPTS Selects Industry Veteran as
New Executive Director

RALEIGH, N.C. (Nov. 29, 2006) — NASDPTS completes exhaustive search by naming fomer Wyoming state director Bob Riley to head post. Riley most recently was transportation director for the past 12 years at Florida's School District of Palm Beach County.

New National Campaign Announced to
Promote School Bus Safety

(Nov. 21, 2006) — An industry coalition officially announced the formation of a $1 million public relations campaign for pupil transporters across the nation with a mission of proactively educating the public on the inherent safety and qualifications of the American yellow school bus. Goals include public outreach and response to tragic events like the fatal Alabama crash that killed four students.

Spike in School Bus Deaths, Serious Injuries

LAGUNA BEACH , Calif. (Oct. 26, 2006) — NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System indicates a doubling in student deaths aboard the school bus and a more than 400 percent increase in the number of onboard incapacitating injuries. Still, the school bus proves far safer than passenger motor vehicles.

Governor: School Bus Safety is Everybody’s Business

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Oct. 18, 2006) — With events and celebrations occurring nationwide, Gov. Matt Blunt recognized National School Bus Safety Week by calling on Missourians to observe the 10,000 yellow vehicles that transport more than 550,000 children to and from public schools throughout the state.

New Update Procedure Being Developed for NTSPS

(Oct. 12, 2006) — A new amendment procedure is coming down the pipe to allow the industry to update guidelines in the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures rather than waiting five years to implement the changes.

New York Entities Prepare for New Hybrid Buses

DEPOSIT, N.Y. (Oct. 10, 2006) - Three New York entities, the most of any one state awarded an IC Corp hybrid-electric school bus to pilot, were awaiting vehicle delivery around the beginning of 2007.

Clean School Bus USA a Cog in EPA's Wheel for Healthier Schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 3, 2006) - The U.S. EPA included its Clean School Bus initiative in a list of eight programs designed to make school environments healthier.

School Bus Safety Week Around the Corner

(Sept. 26, 2006) - NSTA, NAPT ramp up for 40th anniversary of School Bus Safety Week, the first celebration federally recognized by the U.S. House.

Fuel Prices Leading to Increased
School Bus Ridership

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Sept. 14, 2006) - The National School Transportation Association says school bus operators across the country are reporting significant increases in the number of students riding the yellow bus this school year.

Federal Report Outlines Head Start Issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 11, 2006) - The Government Accountability Office reported to Congress how 45 CFR 13.10 is affecting transportation services and other agency operations for grantees nationwide.

Blue Bird Agrees to Acquisition

FORT VALLEY, GA (Aug. 25, 2006) - Blue Bird Corporation announced the signing of a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Ohio Celebrates Passage of School Bus
Safety Week Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 7, 2006) - Several Ohio lawmakers saluted the federal recognition of School Bus Safety Week following a landslide 424-0 vote last month in the U.S. House of Representatives.

STN Concludes 5-Day Conference

RENO, Nevada (July 25, 2006) - With record temperatures in the upper 90- and low 100-degree range, the 2006 STN EXPO Conference and Trade Show drew 600 transporters and 125 vendor companies to the Reno/Lake Tahoe area.

Feds Unanimously Support School Bus Safety Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 19, 2006) - Members of the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously pass federal recognition of School Bus Safety Week, first proposed by Rep. John "Jimmy" Duncan (R-TN) last year, then follow with a landslide 424-0 recorded vote demonstrating full, bi-partisan support. NSTA says the industry will assist in planning celebrations in October.

Increased 2007 Bus Prices Tied to Supply and Demand

WARRENVILLE, Ill. (July 11, 2006) - IC Corp says new 2007-compliant diesel engines will increase per bus cost by $6,000. Blue Bird and Thomas Built Buses quote similar but range of numbers as all three large school bus OEMs deal with skyrocketing component costs tied to increased customer demand.

Head Start Transporters Given Additional Reprieve

WASHINGTON, DC (July 6, 2006) - Head Start Bureau director announces further extension through Dec. 30, 2006 for Head Start agencies to comply with the mandate that children be transported in school buses or allowable alternate vehicles.

Georgia First State to Pass School Bus Watch Mandate

ATLANTA (June 7, 2006) - A law in effect on July 1 requires all commercial driver's license applicants seeking the school bus endorsement to complete School Bus Watch Training in addition to passing skills and knowledge tests and medical and background clearances prescribed by Georgia statutes.

School Bus Safety Week Sponsors Exceed Goal

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 19, 2006) - Following the annual visit to Capitol Hill by the three major school bus industry associations last week, seven more Representatives signed on to HR 498, a resolution honoring the goals and ideals of National School Bus Safety Week. This puts the number of sponsors at 57, more than enough to bring the resolution to the House floor for a vote.

Bus Seating Conversions Needed for Storm Evacuations

WACO, Texas (May 18, 2006) - Following a governor's order to prepare school buses for future hurricane evacuations, the Texas Department of Public Safety seeks information on how to best modify track seating positions to accomodate stretchers.

Industry Coalition Meets on Security, Funding

ROSEMONT, Ill. (May 15, 2006) - Bi-monthly meeting between three national industry associations and three large school bus manufacturers centers on School Bus Watch and a solution to skyrocketing pupil transportation budgets.

Clinard Found Guilty in Joyce Gregory Murder Case

Dover, Tenn. (May 5, 2006) - A jury found Jason Clinard guilty of shooting his school bus driver as she loaded students for the morning run in front of his home. The boy, 14 at the time of the 2005 shooting but now 16, was sentenced to life in prison and will not be eligible for parole until 2057 when he is 66 years old.

Petroleum Industry Has Work Cut Out for ULSD

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 11, 2006) - June 1 deadline looms for all petroleum manufacturers to produce ULSD levels accounting for 80 percent of all diesel fuel supplied nationwide from the refinery to meet EPA requirements for cleaner burning 2007 diesel engines.

Washington State Enacts Biodiesel Requirement

OLYMPIA, Wash. (April 4, 2004) - Department of Agriculture eyes November 2008 target date for implementing B2 mandate for all purchased and sold diesel fuel. Meanwhile increased budget to fund upgrade to state's fuel quality inspection program.

UCS Pushes Feds to Increase Clean School Bus Program

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (March 24, 2006) - Scientific lobbying group joins school bus industry in telling congressman that current funding doesn't meet the demand of nation's school districts for retrofitting, replacing school bus fleet.

Collaboration Key Theme of Disabilities Conference

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 8, 2006) - The 15th annual Transporting Students with Disabilities & Preschoolers concluded today.Event organizer Edupro Group said more than 550 attended.The key theme of the five-day conference was that of collaboration between special needs educators and pupil transporters.

2005 Clean School Bus Awards Announced

TUCSON, Ariz. (Feb. 20, 2006) - EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson announces 37 grant projects at southern Arizona school district that is quickly becoming a hub for CNG school buses.

NSTA Seeks to Counter Transit Encroachment

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Feb. 14, 2006) - Contractors association asks members to report local instances of FTA-approved transit carriers that are offering charter service in violation of federal rules.

Blue Bird Restructures Financially

FORT VALLEY, Ga. (Jan. 30, 2006) - Lenders agree to give school bus OEM an additional $52.5 million to provide a full recovery to the company's general unsecured creditors. Day-to-day operations to remain unchanged.

Loading/Unloading Fatality Survey Released

TOPEKA, Kan. (Jan. 19, 2006) - Number of students killed by their own school bus increases by nearly 300 percent over previous four-year average. Total number of loading/unloading zone fatalities doubles over previous year.

FMCSA Extends 'S' Endorsement Deadline

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 19, 2006) - FMCSA publishes final rule with effective date of Feb. 17 for extending deadline for states to administer skills and knowlege tests to school bus drivers for the federal "S" endorsement to Sept. 30, 2006.

Hijacked School Bus Driver Safe, Suspect in Custody

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 18, 2006) - First Student school bus and driver forced at gun point to travel 200 miles north before driver escapes and calls 911. No students were onboard as the bus was commandeered as it left the depot to begin morning route service.

OLYMPIA, Wash. (Jan. 17, 2006) - State bill would meet pupil transportation funding requests to help school districts meet rising fuel costs. SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION NEWS to highlight this development and more from across the country in March magazine issue.

Gauthier Steps Down from NASDPTS Post

(Jan. 13, 2006) - NASDTPS announced Charles Gauthier, the association's first-ever executive director, resigned after over 10 years as one of the industry's most recognized faces before the media and general public. He was hired in the fall of 1995.

Light Shed on School District Culpability
Regarding 15-Passenger Vans

(Dec. 20, 2005) - Can your school district answer these questions regarding new federal regulations that prohibit the purchase or lease of 15-passenger vans for the primary use of pupil transportation?

NSTA Spearheads Effort for Federally-Recognized School Bus Safety Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 2, 2005) - Industry informed that NHTSA is currently the only federal arm that celebrates annual event. House Resolution 498 would change that.

Report Recommends Sweeping Program to
Reduce School Bus Emissions

ETOBICOKE, Ontario (Nov. 22, 2005) - The Ontario Public Health Association released an air pollution report and the effect of dirty school buses on child heath that calls for a retrofit of all 1994 through 2003 model year school buses by 2011 and a retirement of all pre-1994 school buses by 2007.

Head Start Compliance Dates Could Move to June 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 16, 2005) - With local agencies reportedly struggling with compliance, decison expected by Jan. 6, 2006 on 150-day federal extension of Head Start 45 CFR 1310.12 requirements for yellow school buses or allowable alternative vehicles with age- and weight-appropriate seat restraints, adult monitors and back-up beepers.

Kansas Student Wins National Safety Poster Contest

AUSTIN, Texas (Nov. 7, 2005) - NAPT members vote fifth grader's entry best of show for 2005 at conclusion of 31st Annual NAPT Conference.

NAPT Wraps Up with Sights Set on Kansas City

AUSTIN, Texas (Nov. 4, 2005) - New association presidents closes annual meeting with call on membership to look toward the future.

State Directors, School Bus Industry Meets in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas (Oct. 30, 2005) - NASDPTS members open industry discussion in Austin with NAPT members close on their heels.

Fuel Survey Shows No Price Ceiling

(Oct. 20, 2005) - STN survey of 300 large school districts across the nation shows an average cost increase of $1.04 over the past three school years paid by transportation departments at the beginning of the school year.

TSA Announces Availability of School Bus Security Tips

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 6, 2005) - Feds reprint employee guide and laminated cards giving drivers recommendations to increase awareness of security of the nation's school bus fleet.

CARB Drops Plan to Approve South Coast Rules

DIAMOND Bar, Calif. (Sept. 29, 2005) - The California Air Resources Board voted to curtail school buses from a South Coast air district rule that would force operators only to purchase or lease new alternative fuel vehicles.

Alleged Killer of Tennessee School Bus Driver Indicted

DOVER, Tenn. (Sept. 21, 2005) -- Jason Clinard, the high school student who is alleged to have shot Tennessee school bus driver Joyce Gregory, 47, has been indicted by a grand jury on first-degree murder charges.

Louisiana Seeks Assistance for 150,000
Displaced School Children

BATON ROUGE, La. (Sept. 1, 2005) - Hurricane Katrina drove nearly a quarter of all Louisiana school children from their homes and schools and the state superintendent of education is pleading with all state schools still in operation and neighboring states to take them in.

Mass Evacuations Underway Following Hurricane

(Aug. 31, 2005) - Schools from Louisiana to Tennessee to Florida closed as flooded region attempts to dry out. It is expected to be days before the total number of dead and damage estimates are confirmed.

Clean Fleet Rules a Threat to Safe School Bus Service

LOS ANGELES (Aug. 10, 2005) - California pupil transportation officials say South Coast CNG-only purchase rule threatens to pull current school buses off the road without a funding mechanism for replacement.

Heightened Security Awareness Comes to EXPO

RENO, Nev. (Aug. 2, 2005) - New School Bus Watch program taught to STN EXPO 2005 attendees; tips given to increase school bus driver awareness of possible security breaches.

STN EXPO 2005 Kicks Off in Reno

RENO, Nev. (Aug 1, 2005) - Two days of pre-conferences and a full day of conference workshops centered on such topics as security, drug and weapon awareness, liability and risk, special needs, school bus maintenance, and the NHTSA child safety seat program.

FMCSA: No 'S' Endorsement Needed for Mechanics

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 25, 2005) - The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ruled that school bus mechanics do not need an "S" endorsement on their commercial driver's license when operating the yellow vehicles without students onboard.

New Federal School Bus Training Program Released

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 12, 2005) - The school bus industry and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) announced on July 8 that a school bus specific version of the federally-funded Highway Watch Program will be available nationwide later this month.

Mass Transit Terrorism Threated
Elevated Following London Bombings

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 11, 2005) - Following the bombing of three train stations and a double-decker bus in London, the U.S. federal government elevated the terrorism threat to "Orange," or high, for all domestic mass transit involving passenger rail and buses.

NAPT Video Centers on Security, School Bus Inspection

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 2, 2005) - A new CD ROM from NAPT espouses in video format the necessity of securing federal funding to secure school buses from terrorism. A new CD ROM from NAPT espouses in video format the necessity of securing federal funding to secure school buses from terrorism.

National School Transportation Congress Concludes

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (May 19, 2005) - The 14th National Congress on School Transportation (NCST) adjourned today following a number of significant actions by the 297 state delegates, who represented 47 states. There were also 63 interested parties in attendance. Delegates changed the name from "Conference" to "Congress" on the first day to more accurately reflect the nature of the proceedings.

School Bus Congress Gets Underway

WARRENSBURG, Mo.(May 15, 2005) - Over 300 delegates representing 48 states began deliberations Monday in the Union Ballroom on the campus of Central Missouri State University , where the presidents of NAPT, NASDPTS and NSTA echoed sentiments made an evening earlier by keynote speaker Cal LeMon.

SBIC Questions Sample Size, Agrees More
School Bus Self-Pollution Research Needed